What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willing has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Watson has the most expensive homes ($161k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Willing	Watson
People
Population	1,616Lowest	1,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.9±3.3Lowest 8% above NY	43.7±5.4Highest 10% above NY
	Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Willing and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±6.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Willing and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,778±$5kLowest 20% below NY	$68,864±$12kHighest 20% below NY
	Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$99,000±$17kLowest 77% below NY	$161,300±$18kHighest 62% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$636±$166Lowest 61% below NY	$912±$194Highest 44% below NY
	Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,479Lowest 62% below NY	$2,510Highest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.5%±61.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±40.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Watson and Willing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NY: 14%	8.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	93.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	14.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	4.8%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.